First Period The Canucks started Cory Schneider, their first round pick from 2004, in net for his first NHL game on Saturday and the Flames wanted to pounce on the visitors and perhaps capitalize on some butterflies for the 22-year-old Schneider. The did get shots on him early but the kid held his ground, making six stops against the first line of Jarome Iginla, Matthew Lombardi and Michael Cammalleri alone.

The period ended in a 0-0 tie with the edge in scoring chances going to the Flames.

Second Period A game that appeared to be lacking emotion got a little spark with 5:55 remaining in the second period when Willie Mitchell and Dion Phaneuf started pushign and shoving to create a rather large scrum in the Canucks zone. The pair barked at each other but, for some reason, the referees kept the pair apart and the fighting to a war of words. Regardless, the edge in the game got a little edgier.

And, finally, at 19:22 of the second, Daymond Langkow tipped a Dion Phaneuf wrist shot past Schneider on the power play to give the Flames a 1-0 lead. Credit David Moss for a terrific screen in front on the goal.

Third PeriodDavid Moss, breaking down the left side on a two-on-one, locks, loads and fires five-hole to give the Flames a 2-0 at 6:11.

However, Kyle Wellwood, on a perfect cross ice feed from Jannik Hansen, spoiled Miikka Kiprusoff's bid for a shutout when he tapped home a goal at 11:26 to make things interesting to the very end.

Matthew Lombardi iced the second win in a row over the Canucks with an empty-net tally.

Coupled with a 4-3 win in Vancouver on Thursday, the Flames are now within one point of Vancouver for top spot in the Northwest Division.

THE BIG HITS: Curtis Glencross, going hard on the forecheck, levels Willie Mitchell in the Vancouver zone. Shortly after, with Mitchell chasing a puck behind the Canucks net, Glencross thought he would take another crack at the d-man. This time Mitchell was ready and Glencross was the one who went to the ice.

WHY THE FLAMES WON: Once again they played a patient game and got pucks to the net by sticking to a gameplan.

THE BIG SAVE: Cory Schneider robbed Michael Cammalleri with a doozy of a glove save with 15:25 left in the game. Cammalleri, captializing on a turnover, made a nice move to put himself in a prime spot in the slot and let a hard shot go but the rookie netminder moved out, stood his ground and snagged it with a left-handed stab.

THE ROSTER: F Wayne Primeau returned from a one-game absence with a foot injury to centre the furth line. F Dustin Boyd (upper body); D James Vandermeer (broken leg) and D Rhett Warrener (shoulder surgery) are also injured. The lone healthy scratch was F Andre Roy.

STAMPS HONOURED: Prior to the game members of the Grey Cup champion Calgary Stampeders took to the ice with the coveted trophy to a standing ovation. Quarterback Henry Burris, smiling as usual, grabbed the microphone to let everyone know: "We can now officially crown Calgary the sports capital of Canada!" Burris, who also rode the Zamboni with teh Grey Cup during the first intermission, revved up the crowd prior to the game. "Now it's time to watch the Flames beat the Canucks. Let's get it going everybody, let's get it going!"

BY THE NUMBERS: Jarome Iginla, with an assist on the Flames third goal of the game now has a six-game point streak (2 g 6 a). Curtis Glencross, with an assist, has three goals and four assists in his last four games...The Flames were 0-6 in the face-off circle during 3:29 of power play time in the first period...Calgary outshot Vancouver 10-3 in the second period and 31-15 on the night. Matthew Lombardi and Jarome Iginla led the way with five shots on net each for the Flames...D Dion Phaneuf was the minute cruncher with 26:50.

UP NEXT: The Flames will have a day of rest and then get ready for a date with the Dallas Stars at the Pengrowth Saddledome on Tuesday